by L. A. Boruff
“They have a clinic.” Von folded his arms on top of the table and leaned forward. “Can you take a look at it? See if there’s anything glaring that they’re missing that’s feasible and reasonable to get them?”
“Yeah, that’s fine.” It made more sense that he’d specifically requested a nurse. All of us nurses talked together on the open data loop, and we’d been a little confused. He’d probably wanted to send someone from Central or Southwest, but I’d jumped on it. I was more than ready to take a break. I looked between them. “That it? We all set?”
“Yeah.” Grem stood, prompting Ray and I to get up as well. “I’ll meet you out in the lot.”
We did the goodbye thing and headed back out of the building. Fat drops of rain splattered against my leather jacket as we crossed to our bikes.
“Well,” Ray commented as he settled on the seat before it could get any wetter. “Hope he doesn’t mind you getting too loud, kitty-cat.” Because while he was a large wolf, I turned into a sleek, spotted bobcat. “If he’s sleeping in the front.”
I gave him a flat look, earning one of his ready smiles in return.
The rumble of a bike snapped my head around. Grem coasted through the lot toward us. He stopped and put a heavy boot flat on the concrete, waiting for us to back out of the spot. In no time we were speeding down the road, headed north.
We had to get an ambulance from Central. Grem said Von ensured we were getting the good one, not one that had been converted from an old transport truck like most of the ambulances spread through the Divisions. Impressions to make and all of that.
The rain fell in earnest by the time we pulled into Central. My torso was nice and dry thanks to my jacket, but my comfortable hemp pants were soaked. I almost thought about taking everything off and shifting in the back of the ambulance to help dry off, but shaking back there would get everything else wet.
Grem drove. It was a long drive, but it wasn’t so bad. I stretched out on the bed and stared at the ceiling. They kept the intercom between the front and back open so we could all talk. Grem had no problem joining in with the chatter between Ray and me. He even got a bit flirty with both of us, which was interesting. Maybe that was just the type of person he was.
By the time we got to the fishing camp that afternoon, the wind drove the rain sideways. It hammered across the top of the ambulance as the vehicle slowed to a stop, a steady splattering thrum on the roof. “This is insane.” Ray had the sensitive hearing of a shifter, but Grem did not. I had to raise my voice to be heard over the weather. We had storms in East, but they were never like this. The whole vehicle rocked with the wind.
“It gets like this on the coast,” Ray mused. “Usually by the time it hits us, it’s had a chance to die out a little.”
“I’m not driving back like this in the dark,” Grem said flatly. “Trees’ll be down on the road, and I might not see them.” Not to mention the former governor hadn’t really cared too much about maintaining the infrastructure out here. The old concrete highway leading from the Divisions up to the camp was crumbling away, and sections of it were almost impassable in full daylight. Steer a little too far in one direction and we could find ourselves plummeting down the side of a cliff.
“That’s what we thought might happen. I’ll send Leo a message while you’re in there doing your thing.” Ray paused. “You okay, kitty-cat?”
“Yeah. Not looking forward to the rain.” I eyed the doors at the rear of the ambulance somewhat dubiously.
“What, you don’t like being wet?” There was no getting away from the innuendo in Grem’s voice, and I couldn’t help a smile as I shook my head.
Ray’s rich chuckle seemed to echo in the back of vehicle. “Someone’s come out to meet us.”
With a sigh, I pushed the rear doors open. I’d dried off on the trip, but my pants were soaked almost immediately, my dark hair plastered against my head. Trees danced and swayed in the wind, looming and creaking around us.
I made my way around to Ray’s side of the truck where I could see someone standing at the edge of the pitted concrete road. They beckoned before turning and hustling back under the overhang in front of a squat, dingy building.
Ray stepped out beside me, and even the sound of the door closing was hard to pick out in the rain. His arm looped around my waist as we dashed for the shelter of the overhang, Grem close behind. It was a little better under the flat roof – only my back was getting wet instead of all of me. The light beside the door glowed dimly through the weather, but it was easier to see when we were right on top of it.
The stranger had to struggle to open the door before he slipped inside, like the wood was swollen from the rain or he was fighting the wind. Maybe both. Ray caught it with his palm, holding it for me to duck under his arm.
Inside was a small room that looked like a clinic, office, and storage area combined. The stranger turned out to be a man around my height, with long silver hair and a truly impressive beard. His eyes moved over us, getting stuck on Grem’s broad form for a moment before coming back to Ray and me. “You from the Mountain? Or the Divisions or whatever the fuck you’re calling it now?”
“Yeah,” I replied with a warm smile. That was the smile I gave reluctant patients. “I’m Courtney. This is Ray and Grem.” I motioned to them. “We have your supplies in the ambulance. Von wants me to take a look at your clinic too, see if there’s anything else you’re missing or could use that we could get for you.”
The man grunted. His eyes moved over me before he jerked his thumb over his shoulder. “This is it. We don’t need anything big or fancy, but you’re welcome to take a look.” Although he sounded somewhat dubious.
“Thanks.” I gave him another warm smile before moving into the part of the room that seemed mostly sectioned off for the clinic.
Chapter Two
His name was Chuck, the man who’d met us. He oversaw Grem and Ray move the supplies in, and his demeanor relaxed considerably when he realized they’d included some of East’s other products. Von must’ve had them sitting in a storage room or something, because we definitely weren't up to production yet. We certainly weren’t the only division that produced wine and weed, but I’d always thought ours were the best.
Chuck offered for us to stay in the office-clinic room for the night. There was more room there than the ambulance, so we bundled up all the blankets and pillows and brought them inside. It was quieter too, the rain a steady patter against the roof instead of a deafening drum against a vehicle that rocked in the wind.
There were a few things they could use that they didn’t have, and I sent a list to Von. After that and getting everything moved in and more or less put away or at least stacked neatly against the wall where they wouldn’t be in the way, we had time to kill.
We chatted some more. Ray found a deck of cards in the desk and we played a few games of euchre. But as the afternoon drew on into evening, it was hard not to get bored.
Grem stood from a folding chair barely wide enough to hold him and stretched. His eyes flicked over me before landing on Ray. “Never scrapped with a shifter before.” Invitation warmed his voice.
My eyebrows rose. “There’s not exactly enough room for all that. Not to mention you can’t shift and heal back when Ray bites you.” Wrestling or play-fighting, whatever you wanted to call it, was a perfectly reasonable way to spend an evening. But Ray and I would both be completely healed when we shifted back to human form. Grem would not.
Grem folded his arms, intensity in his eyes when they locked on Ray. “Would it make a difference if I said the winner got to fuck the loser?” His smile carried the heat of promise rather than a joke.
I uncrossed my legs and sat up a little straighter. “There’s not-” I started, though my argument lacked the vehemence it had just seconds ago.
“It’s fine.” Ray stood and shed the leather vest he usually wore, followed by the shirt he had on underneath. I was a little surprised he’d actually worn one – usually he di
dn’t bother. His chair scraped across the floor as he pushed it back to rest against the wall. “You might wanna move, kitty-cat.” His gray eyes sparkled as he looked at me.
I stood and helped them clear our sitting area away from the center of the floor. There really wasn’t that much room. And Ray was going to lose.
We were stronger, than humans, faster. He’d be faster than Grem, but without the ability to shift into his furrier form, he didn’t stand a chance against an orc. Was he just going to shift and be careful? Or…
I caught his wink. Or he didn’t intend to win. I folded my arms as I leaned back against the wall, eyebrows raised. “There are easier ways to get laid,” I said in an undertone I was fairly sure Grem wouldn’t be able to hear. Especially considering we’d been talking about spending the night together. It was hard not to feel a little… something. Jealous? Disappointed? Something.
“But not as much fun.” Ray tossed me a grin before turning to face Grem.
That was probably true. Wrestling, running and chasing, it all sometimes turned into foreplay. I settled in to watch, telling myself it was just to make sure no one got too hurt, that they didn’t destroy anything. Deep down, I knew better. Because in addition to the something I felt, anticipation fluttered inside me.
Grem stripped off his shirt as well. He was a wall of broad muscles, and yes, I could definitely see the appeal. Maybe I wasn’t going to get any, but there were worse ways to spend a stormy night than watching them grapple half-naked in the middle of the floor.
Ray lunged. He was faster, dodging in and out of Grem’s range, landing a few solid punches. Grem was going to have a few bruises, that was for sure. Adrenaline licked through me as I watched them, each smack of skin hitting skin almost seeming to echo through the room. It was hotter than it had any right to be – though to be fair we all knew this was directly a precursor to sex. I was unashamedly watching their foreplay.
It didn’t last very long. Ray was tall, but Grem still had probably a good head on him and had a longer reach. In the blink of an eye, he grabbed Ray and had him down on the ground. Ray bucked and tried to push him off, but there was no moving him. They knelt on the floor facing me, Grem’s arm locked around Ray’s throat, tightening to cut off his air.
Ray tapped out, his fingers almost a blur against the green bicep by his ear. He sucked in a grateful breath of air when Grem loosened his grip just enough to allow it. “You win.” It was a clear challenge. They were both bruised up, and Grem had a bloody nose.
Grem’s arm dropped to band across Ray’s chest, holding him in place against the front of his body. Their shoulders heaved as they tried to catch their breath, winded from their little wrestling match. He opened the front of Ray’s pants, yanking them down roughly over his hips. Unsurprisingly Ray was already half-hard, his cock growing as Grem exposed him.
“I should make sure you two aren’t badly hurt,” I protested, forcing my eyes up to meet theirs. That was absolutely what I needed to do. Or get up and walk out, despite the heat that had built up deep in my own body watching them grab at each other. I could take care of that myself.
Red eyes came directly to me, the intensity sending a shiver down my spine. “Get over here,” Grem demanded. His hand closed around Ray’s shaft, working it in short, sharp pulls.
“Why?” I licked my suddenly dry lips. “I didn’t lose.”
Ray’s eyes closed. His hips swayed, pushing into Grem’s touch. Yeah, he was totally okay with this outcome.
Grem raised an eyebrow. “You telling me you don’t want his tongue in that sweet pussy while I fuck him?” Grem grasped Ray’s chin in his hand, jerking his head down to face me. “Tell her.”
Ray opened eyes gone black with lust. “Come here, kitty-cat.” His husky invitation sent heat twisting through me.
I swallowed. I couldn’t look away from the sharp jerks of Grem’s hand, and I couldn’t come up with a single reason to say no. I pushed away from the wall almost before I realized it. But I didn’t go to them, not yet.
I skirted them, going to get lube out of one of the boxes we’d brought. It wasn’t necessarily meant for that purpose, but it would work. I placed it on the floor beside Grem’s knee.
“Thanks. Now get down there.” Grem’s eyes were hard on me.
I dropped to my knees in front of them. Despite how worked up I was, it was a little awkward. They were obviously caught up in each other, both at least half naked, and there I was…
Ray reached for me, his fingers tangling in my hair. He pulled me in for a kiss, deep and sloppy. His teeth caught against my lip, the little sting sending another jolt of heat through me.
The hand on my hip was unfamiliar, making me pull back and open my eyes. Too big, not warm enough to be Ray – it was Grem. Our flirting had never progressed to a physical level, but it sure had now.
Grem’s fingers pressed in against my ass, but he never stopped the rhythmic pull over Ray’s shaft. “Get your clothes off and get a fucking pillow or something.”
“Bossy.” But I got up to do as he said. The tension between them was obviously growing, and if I didn’t get in there soon, it probably wasn’t going to happen.
I quickly shed my clothes and got a pillow and blanket, spreading them out before laying on my back in front of Ray. I immediately felt awkward again as both pairs of eyes focused on me.
Grem’s hand finally fell away from Ray’s cock. His palm cracked across Ray’s ass, the sound sharp enough to make me jump. Long fingers gripped Ray’s dark hair, pulling just enough to expose the line of his throat. “She comes before you do. Because…” His teeth grazed over Ray’s ear. “I want to see it.”
As soon as Ray was free, he dropped to his elbows in front of me. He was usually a little more assertive when we were together, but he didn’t seem to mind that Grem had taken control. He sent a wink up the line of my body at me before his hands settled on my thighs. “Relax, kitty-cat.” His thumbs pulled me open, exposing my center.
“Yeah, easy enough for you to say. This is a bit – oh!” I cut off in a gasp as his tongue flicked against my clit. This was familiar territory. We’d done this before, and it was easy to let go, to stop feeling so self-conscious and just enjoy it.
My hands settled on the sides of his head, fingers twining in his thick, soft hair. The sinuous dance of his tongue soon had me writhing under him as heat built up between my legs. He usually started out slow, a little teasing, but there was a certain urgency as the pointed tip of his tongue flicked back and forth.
He let out a low moan, the vibration licking along my skin. I had my eyes shut, but I was willing to bet I knew exactly what was happening. Grem had to be opening him up. I didn’t dare look, but the idea of it, that Grem was getting ready to fuck Ray while Ray had his face buried between my thighs, only intensified the sensations rolling through me.
Ray shifted just enough to bring his hand up between my legs. One finger slid deep into my pussy, and I pushed up to meet him as much as I could. He had too much going on to concentrate on fucking me with it, but it was nice to have something to clamp down on while he drove me absolutely insane.
A moan slipped out when his lips closed around my clit. Pleasure sparked through me as he sucked hard, bringing my hips up off the floor. I grabbed at the blanket so I didn’t score him with my nails.
I could hear it, the soft rhythmic slap of Grem’s knuckles against Ray’s ass. It matched the tempo of Ray’s tongue lashing across my sensitive nub, and that realization made me squeeze my eyes shut. It wasn’t just Ray and Grem, and Ray and me. We were all doing this together, all consumed by this moment we shared.
The world narrowed down to the intensity he pushed through me, seeming to come to a halt as I perched right on the edge of ecstasy. His finger pulled back, only to shove roughly into me again. My breath caught as I came hard, clenching around him.
Ray pulled back to rest his forehead against my thigh. I opened my eyes to see his body jolt just a little as Grem fuc
ked into him from behind, his muscles flexing with each sharp movement.
Grem’s fingers hooked around Ray’s upper arm, pulling him up against his chest. “You want to be between us?” The question was for Ray, but his gaze was hard on me, so intense I couldn’t look away. “Fuck your pretty cat while I fuck you?”
Ray’s eyes fell shut. His hand closed around his cock, seeming unable to keep from stroking himself. “Yes,” was a low hiss.
I rested my feet against the floor, thighs snugging up around Ray’s hips as he lowered himself over me. His erection was rock hard, damp at the tip with precome. He lined himself up perfectly before surging into me, his low groan filling my ears. My eyes closed and my head fell back as he filled me, my hips tilting up to meet him.
He stilled. He was heavier, an added weight on top of me as Grem presumably pushed deep into Ray’s ass. I barely had time to register it before Grem fucked Ray hard, driving him roughly into me again and again.
My nails raked down Ray’s sides as pleasure and desire twisted together, coiling at the base of my spine. My eyes flew open when Grem grabbed my wrist, and I looked at him over Ray’s shoulder.
“Touch yourself,” Grem said in a low voice.
I slipped my hand between our heated bodies, my finger settling over my clit. I circled tightly, and it wasn’t long before the world started to draw in on me. My orgasm spread heat through my limbs, stealing my breath as I flew high on ecstasy.
“Fuck. Oh fuck,” Ray swore. He stuttered to a stop, head hanging down. I felt the pulse of his release, but Grem was relentless, fucking him hard. “Grem-”
“Just a little more,” Grem growled. Another handful of strokes had him falling still too. He eased back, and Ray dropped to my side.
“Well.” I stared up at the ceiling. “Never done that before.”
Ray chuckled. His fingers curled around my wrist, one stroking over the spot where my pulse beat madly under my thumb. “You have a good time?”
